Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The original phrasing here is a bit tricky, and many take it to be about human wisdom. However, the question might actually be pointing to the intelligence and purpose observed within natural phenomena like lightning or clouds themselves, asking who orchestrated their "wisdom" and "understanding" to fulfill God's commands.
Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind?
English Standard Version (ESV)
God's powerful speech to Job continues, questioning Job's ability to understand or control the vast natural world. After discussing the stars, clouds, and lightning, God now asks who instilled wisdom and understanding, implying that humans, like these natural forces, receive their capabilities from Him. This challenges Job to consider the source of his own thoughts and insights, especially as he prepares to respond to God's overwhelming display of power and knowledge.
When you look at the stars, do you see random twinkling lights, or a masterpiece of divine design? Job 38 challenges us to consider the 'intelligence' embedded within creation itself.
The passage asks who put wisdom in the 'inward parts' and understanding in the 'heart.' While this is often interpreted as referring to human intellect, many scholars suggest it's about the phenomena of the sky itself—the lightning, the clouds, the storms.
A Universe with a Mind?
Imagine the thunderbolts or the swirling clouds. They seem to act with a purpose, following God's commands. The text prompts us to ask: Is there a kind of wisdom inherent in these natural forces? It's not that they think like us, but that their very existence and operation reveal God's intricate planning and power.
This perspective redirects our awe. Instead of just marveling at our ability to understand creation, we're invited to marvel at the wisdom within creation, a wisdom far beyond our own.
We pride ourselves on our intelligence, our ability to learn and reason. But have you ever stopped to consider who gave you that capacity?
Even if we understand the 'inward parts' and 'heart' to refer to human beings, the question remains profoundly theological.
God, the Ultimate Giver
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When God poses this question to Job, He's cutting through Job's self-assured arguments. Job has been speaking with the wisdom he possesses, but God points out that even that wisdom is a gift. No one spontaneously generates intelligence; it's ultimately imparted by the Creator.
This isn't just about natural intellect (knowing how things work, reasoning, logic). It also encompasses spiritual understanding—the ability to grasp God's truths and respond to Him. All of it originates from God.
Understand the original words
chokmah · Hebrew Noun
The capacity for discernment, insight, and moral prudence; in Scripture, it often refers to the practical application of knowledge that is rooted in the fear of God.
techoth · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the inner nature, heart, or seat of human thought and emotion. In a biblical context, it highlights the internal capacity given by God for human reasoning and intuition.
binah · Hebrew Noun
The faculty of intelligence, discernment, or understanding; it represents the God-given capacity to perceive truth and exercise good judgment.
sekhvi · Hebrew Noun
Literally refers to the intellect or the human mind; the internal reservoir where God places the ability to comprehend divine revelation and earthly phenomena.
This passage directly states that wisdom and understanding come from God, echoing Job's question about the source of these qualities.
Psalm 139:14This verse speaks to the marvel of human creation and the intricate design of our inner selves, aligning with Job's contemplation of God's work within us.
Ecclesiastes 2:26This verse highlights that all wisdom and understanding are gifts from God, reinforcing the idea that humans don't possess these inherently but receive them.
Jeremiah 24:7This verse connects knowing God with having a heart that understands, illustrating that true understanding is tied to a relationship with the divine.
1 Corinthians 1:30This New Testament passage asserts that Christ has become our wisdom from God, providing a fuller picture of the divine source of all true understanding.
cambridgeJob 38:36: "Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?"
36 . The verse is obscure, owing to the terms “inward parts” and “heart” being of uncertain meaning. The translation of the A.V. may be certainly set aside, (1) because the introduction of a reference to the “inward parts” and “heart” of man in the middle of a description of celestial phenomena is not to be thought of; and (2) any laudatory reference to man is out of keeping with the whole drift…
pooleJob 38:36: "Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?"
In the inward parts, to wit, of a man. Compare @Job 19:27 Psalm 51:6 . Who gave thee that wit and understanding which thou hast, and which thou now usest so arrogantly and wickedly, to contend with me, and to censure my actions? Who hath given understanding to the heart; so he limits the former general expression of the inward parts. The heart is made by the Hebrews the seat of the understanding,…
The original phrasing here is a bit tricky, and many take it to be about human wisdom. However, the question might actually be pointing to the intelligence and purpose observed within natural phenomena like lightning or clouds themselves, asking who orchestrated their "wisdom" and "understanding" to fulfill God's commands.
God's powerful speech to Job continues, questioning Job's ability to understand or control the vast natural world. After discussing the stars, clouds, and lightning, God now asks who instilled wisdom and understanding, implying that humans, like these natural forces, receive their capabilities from Him. This challenges Job to consider the source of his own thoughts and insights, especially as he prepares to respond to God's overwhelming display of power and knowledge.
God's powerful speech to Job continues, questioning Job's ability to understand or control the vast natural world. After discussing the stars, clouds, and lightning, God now asks who instilled wisdom and understanding, implying that humans, like these natural forces, receive their capabilities from Him. This challenges Job to consider the source of his own thoughts and insights, especially as he prepares to respond to God's overwhelming display of power and knowledge.
"Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind?" — The original phrasing here is a bit tricky, and many take it to be about human wisdom. However, the question might actually be pointing to the intelligence and purpose observed within natural pheno…
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Last reviewed October 2026